Confusion, Bishop Robinson told us speaking on the exhibition hall floor today, is a gift. Compared to previous General Conventions, this one is pretty light on hot button sexuality issues. Robinson notes that the authorization of a rite for same-sex blessings, the item at this convention likely to attract the most outside media attention, is regarded as a done deal even among the most conservative bishops in the church. Not sure when the vote is scheduled, but it's coming up.
Instead, at this convention we are dialing the temperature down and listening more to each other. The discussion of full transgender equality happening at this convention opens up a perhaps more detailed storytelling than has been required to discuss gay/straight issues.
That's where the confusion comes in. Though transgender people are the T in GLBT, for gay people generally have as steep a learning curve when it comes to fully welcoming trans people as straight people do. In the popular imagination, transgender conjures the notion of a person who desires gender reassignment surgery. And indeed that does reflect a portion of the transgender community. But transgender expression knows many forms, and defies easy categorization. It is confusing.
The confusion about transgender identity is a blessing because fully welcoming trans people requires truly listening to each individual's experience. Bishop Robinson used a young person in the audience who identifies as a gay trans man as an example of a person whose story needs to be fully heard. I agree. After all, I'm not fully certain I can tell you what identifying as a gay trans man means.
In fostering confusion, transgender people who long to be full participants in the church offer all of us a gift. Intentional welcome involves intentional listening. That is a transferable skill, something that can more fully enable us to welcome anyone who walks through our doors.
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